As the sun dips below the horizon in Santa Monica, a nostalgic blue text appears, echoing a sentiment that resonates with many: “It’s been 15 years since I played that damned game.” The game in question, Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines, released by Troika in 2004, set a benchmark for titles inspired by tabletop RPGs and has left an indelible mark on the genre. Yet, the focus here shifts to a different experience entirely—one that invites players to explore a pixelated world through the lens of a lesser-known side-scrolling RPG: Santa Monica By Night.
A Pixelated Love Letter
Emerging from the excitement surrounding the 2019 reveal of Bloodlines 2, Santa Monica By Night is a flash game that transports players to a reimagined Los Angeles, just before Vannevar Thomas’ ambitious takeover. In this pixelated adventure, you step into the shoes of a Thinblood, a weaker Kindred, on a quest to locate Vincent Lenz. The game, while modest in its design, serves as a heartfelt homage to its source material. Players are greeted with familiar phrases, such as “hello LA, you’re up way past your bedtime,” a nod to the iconic radio show, Deb of Night. As I explore the environment, I find myself yearning for the interactive depth of Bloodlines, particularly the quirky Malkavian dialogues, yet the attention to detail in Santa Monica By Night is unmistakable.
Developed during an itch.io jam aptly named ‘Vampire Jam,’ the game was crafted in just seven days by Martyna ‘Outstar’ Zych and fellow developer ‘Memoriesin8bit.’ Zych, now a creative producer for World of Darkness, describes the project as “a fan fiction project” fueled by a passion for game jams and the allure of vampires. “I love Bloodlines and wanted to create a spin on its story,” she explains. The game features branching narratives, multiple endings, and a plethora of easter eggs, all woven together to create a delightful ten-minute experience that invites players to revisit it time and again.
When asked about her choice of setting, Outstar shares her affinity for “small town stories.” She believes Santa Monica, with its unique quirks and oddities, feels like a character in its own right. “Santa Monica in Bloodlines just feels so small-town-y,” she reflects. “It’s portrayed as a dump with its own power players and local vibe, almost like the beginning of a Western movie.” For Outstar, the game’s concept was rooted in a desire to connect with a world that felt like home, even if her real-life visit to the location revealed a stark contrast to the dark, immersive universe of the game.
The legacy of Bloodlines is rich with memorable quotes, locations, and characters. Outstar faced the challenge of condensing this wealth into a concise narrative. “I wanted to focus on explaining the setting to newcomers while clarifying the differences between the original Bloodlines and the current setting for returning fans,” she notes. This led to the inclusion of characters like the adult store owner, who serves as a vehicle for illustrating the heightened stakes of the Masquerade in the present day.
As players navigate the pixelated landscape, they encounter familiar locations and game mechanics that evoke a sense of nostalgia. From leaping into the sewers like a Nosferatu to facing the Inquisition in Bertram Tung’s haven, the game captures the essence of the original while introducing new twists. Outstar acknowledges that some elements were left out due to time constraints, expressing a particular regret about not including the beloved character Mercurio. Yet, she made the bold choice to eliminate the ever-present doomsayer outside the Americana diner, a decision that evokes mixed feelings of relief and emptiness.
Santa Monica By Night offers multiple endings, each resonating with the themes of hopelessness and loss that define the World of Darkness. Outstar describes the player response as overwhelmingly positive, with many surprised by the game’s branching narratives. “Endings are made out of different building blocks stacked together, so it’s not only the last scene that gets affected by your choices,” she explains. After the jam, the duo even added a secret ending that provides a rare glimpse of closure for the love story at the heart of the game.
In the realm of the World of Darkness, happy endings are scarce, and moral ambiguity reigns supreme. Players may find themselves rooting for Vincent and Julius, yet the shadows of their tale suggest that not all stories culminate in joy. Santa Monica By Night encapsulates the very essence of what makes Vampire: The Masquerade so captivating. For those who find themselves in Seattle this holiday season, taking a mere ten minutes to explore Outstar’s enchanting flash game promises an experience that will linger long after the screen fades to black.
